Re: [Patents] EPO grants Acacia patent on video streaming]

["Brandon Shalton" <brandon@fightthepatent.com>]

>
> Acacia's porno business model might be quite attractive for the european
> patent establishment.  Like Acacia, the patent establishment has a weak
> case that is best enforced against weak victims (in PR terms) at the
> beginning.

Acacia has not singled out the Adult Industry as evident by the many
universities that have received the licensing literature.

Acacia has heavily targeted the Adult/porn industry by submitting to the
court 2 proposed class action lawsuits. The class actions have not been
approved and it will be interesting to see if the court allows it.

The Markman Hearing is set for Feb 6th,

>
> Has anything become known about Acacia threatening companies in Europe so
> far?
>

Acacia has seen "information packets" and "Final Notice" letters to European
(adult/porn) companies. I have heard from many of them on the receipt of the
patent licensing solicitation junk mail and spam.

No companies in Europe have been targeted for litigation yet.  Robert
Berman, Chief Counsel for Acacia, has stated in an interview that they would
be targeting Europe this year (they also said in their Q3 Conference Call
that they would be targeting Europe in Q4 2003).  With the recent Press
Release of the "new" patents, one can presume they are getting ready.

For companies that have been served with a court notice, I provide prior art
finds for free.

-brandon
http://www.FightThePatent.com - tracking patent  cases involving Acacia
Research, SightSound, and USA Video.